Out of status and passport expiring soon

[Quelaag]

Hello everyone,
I've made some pretty stupid mistakes since I came to Canada to be with my boyfriend a few years ago, and been postponing everything for a few years now, but I finally have to face the reality.

Basic information :
I came to Canada via Working Holiday Visa for one year to live with my Canadian boyfriend. After that I did not manage to renew my work permit and have been out of status for 3 years. We are now common-law partners thinking about a wedding next year, however my lack of status is very troubling, and I don't wanna proceed with the wedding until that is solved. I have not illegally worked here since my Visa expired and did not commit any crimes other than not having a legal status.
I am from a European country where one needs eTA to travel to Canada as a visitor, no visitor visa is needed anymore.

Situation:
We are almost done gathering all the necessary documents with my partner to finally submit an inland Sponsorship application. My passport expires in September. I was going to fly to Toronto to renew it next month, HOWEVER when I went to our embassy site, it says I need "a landing permit in Canada (Permanent Resident Card, Long-Term Visa) or Certificate of Canadian citizenship" in order to renew the passport, which I obviously don't have.

What do I do now?
1. Do I still submit an inland application, wait for it to get hopefully approved and THEN try to renew my passport?
2. Should I submit an outland application instead, travel back to Europe, renew my passport and hope I will be allowed to re-enter Canada?
3. Should I try to get my passport renewed in Toronto anyway, hoping that they won't ask for any documentation regarding my status/make an exception?

I'm extremely worried, because my whole life is here in Canada, and none of us can imagine being away from each other anymore. I completely messed up and it's giving me huge anxiety every day and nightmares at night.

Please help me, what is the best course of action for me right now?

Thank you!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello everyone,
I've made some pretty stupid mistakes since I came to Canada to be with my boyfriend a few years ago, and been postponing everything for a few years now, but I finally have to face the reality.

Basic information :
I came to Canada via Working Holiday Visa for one year to live with my Canadian boyfriend. After that I did not manage to renew my work permit and have been out of status for 3 years. We are now common-law partners thinking about a wedding next year, however my lack of status is very troubling, and I don't wanna proceed with the wedding until that is solved. I have not illegally worked here since my Visa expired and did not commit any crimes other than not having a legal status.
I am from a European country where one needs eTA to travel to Canada as a visitor, no visitor visa is needed anymore.

Situation:
We are almost done gathering all the necessary documents with my partner to finally submit an inland Sponsorship application. My passport expires in September. I was going to fly to Toronto to renew it next month, HOWEVER when I went to our embassy site, it says I need "a landing permit in Canada (Permanent Resident Card, Long-Term Visa) or Certificate of Canadian citizenship" in order to renew the passport, which I obviously don't have.

What do I do now?
1. Do I still submit an inland application, wait for it to get hopefully approved and THEN try to renew my passport?
2. Should I submit an outland application instead, travel back to Europe, renew my passport and hope I will be allowed to re-enter Canada?
3. Should I try to get my passport renewed in Toronto anyway, hoping that they won't ask for any documentation regarding my status/make an exception?

I'm extremely worried, because my whole life is here in Canada, and none of us can imagine being away from each other anymore. I completely messed up and it's giving me huge anxiety every day and nightmares at night.

Please help me, what is the best course of action for me right now?

Thank you!

You won't be granted PR without a valid passport and it seems you can't extend your passport without becoming a PR. Looks like you will need to leave. With a 3 year overstay, you have pretty much no chance of being allowed entry as a visitor anytime soon, so if you try to return, you could expect to be refused entry and have to wait out the PR process outside of Canada.

 

[StephanH]

You won't be granted PR without a valid passport and it seems you can't extend your passport without becoming a PR. Looks like you will need to leave. With a 3 year overstay, you have pretty much no chance of being allowed entry as a visitor anytime soon, so if you try to return, you could expect to be refused entry and have to wait out the PR process outside of Canada.

Does she really think she could get PR when overstaying her visa for three years, not only she will get denied, she will also have CBSA knocking at her door. I guess the only option she has now is to bring her Canadian bf in Europe and start their lives there again and try to return together has a married cpl in the future;( or stay in Canada illegally until she gets caught. People keep your papers up to date.

 

[Quelaag]

You won't be granted PR without a valid passport and it seems you can't extend your passport without becoming a PR. Looks like you will need to leave. With a 3 year overstay, you have pretty much no chance of being allowed entry as a visitor anytime soon, so if you try to return, you could expect to be refused entry and have to wait out the PR process outside of Canada.

I was thinking I could get it renewed after CIC sends me a passport request letter. That I would show them the letter and all the other documentation regarding my application + birth certificate + my old passport.
Could I also possibly apply for a Temporary Resident Permit along with my Sponsorship application?

 

[scylla]

I was thinking I could get it renewed after CIC sends me a passport request letter. That I would show them the letter and all the other documentation regarding my application + birth certificate + my old passport.
Could I also possibly apply for a Temporary Resident Permit along with my Sponsorship application?

You haven't said which country you are from - so hard to answer some of your questions. Always best to provide full details if you want help. Some countries have pretty specific requirements regarding passport renewals outside of Canada and having a passport request from an inland application may not be enough to qualify. So if you want to go down this route - you need to make sure they will accept the letter and renew your passport.

You would apply for the TRP separately. Impossible to say if it will be approved or not (generally they are difficult to get). To the best of my knowledge, you need a valid passport to apply for a TRP and the TRP will only be issued for the duration of the passport validity. So don't think this solves your current problem.

 

[Quelaag]

You haven't said which country you are from - so hard to answer some of your questions. Always best to provide full details if you want help. Some countries have pretty specific requirements regarding passport renewals outside of Canada and having a passport request from an inland application may not be enough to qualify. So if you want to go down this route - you need to make sure they will accept the letter and renew your passport.

You would apply for the TRP separately. Impossible to say if it will be approved or not (generally they are difficult to get). To the best of my knowledge, you need a valid passport to apply for a TRP and the TRP will only be issued for the duration of the passport validity. So don't think this solves your current problem.

Thank you for your kind reply. I'm from Czech Republic, if that helps. I already emailed Czech embassy in Toronto and am now awaiting their response. I really hope I can somehow get it renewed, this is such a dumb and stressful situation to be in, I really wish I could go back.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your kind reply. I'm from Czech Republic, if that helps. I already emailed Czech embassy in Toronto and am now awaiting their response. I really hope I can somehow get it renewed, this is such a dumb and stressful situation to be in, I really wish I could go back.

Based on the information on their website, you need to have valid status in Canada to renew your passport - if so, won't be possible for you and you'll need to return home. Reaching out to them to confirm is the right next move.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Does she really think she could get PR when overstaying her visa for three years, not only she will get denied, she will also have CBSA knocking at her door. I guess the only option she has now is to bring her Canadian bf in Europe and start their lives there again and try to return together has a married cpl in the future;( or stay in Canada illegally until she gets caught. People keep your papers up to date.

An overstay is not a reason for refusal. Many people overstay for years before getting PR. If OP's passport wasn't about to expire, there would be no issues applying for PR.

 

[MarcKay]

Hi @Quelaag,
I agree with @scylla, you have to make sure if they can renew your passport here in Canada even with a expired status. I'd go there to get detail information and explain about your case. Depending on their policies, they may give you a temporary 1 year passport.

Keep in mind, if you apply to get sponsored in Canada, you won't be deported until the final decision for your application. CBSA may ask you to go to their office but not everyone.

I was on the same situation as you (passport expired and without status) and my application just got approved.

Check this post as well. - https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/out-of-status-application-new-thread-for-those-feeling-lost.414815/

 

[GIE34]

Hi @Quelaag
I was out of status for 12 years, my passport was expired , and there's no way to renew it here in Toronto for one of the requirements too on the embassy of my country's website is you must have a valid work permit or or pr card. But when I applied for inland sponsorship and received all the emails from CIC regarding my application, that's when I went to my embassy and applied to renew my passport, and they made me signed an affidavit and I stated in there that I need to have a valid passport for immigration purposes, and there's no problem. But then every country has different rules try to contact them and for sure they will help you.

 

[Keepfaith09]

From what

Hi @Quelaag
I was out of status for 12 years, my passport was expired , and there's no way to renew it here in Toronto for one of the requirements too on the embassy of my country's website is you must have a valid work permit or or pr card. But when I applied for inland sponsorship and received all the emails from CIC regarding my application, that's when I went to my embassy and applied to renew my passport, and they made me signed an affidavit and I stated in there that I need to have a valid passport for immigration purposes, and there's no problem. But then every country has different rules try to contact them and for sure they will help you.

 

[Keepfaith09]

From what

From what country you are? I’m in the same situation i have to renew my passport but i just have to wait IRCC request it. I’m out of status since 2015 when i passed my application CBSA visited me.. i got a medical passed eligiblity passed sponsor approved and they request my home country police clearance that’s all they requested. They didn’t asked for more proof of cohabition which i’m expecting

 

[Quelaag]

Thank you for all your encouraging replies! I feel a bit more at ease, hopefully the embassy will be understanding enough to let me renew my passport. Will let you know how it went!

 

[Quelaag]

From what country you are? I’m in the same situation i have to renew my passport but i just have to wait IRCC request it. I’m out of status since 2015 when i passed my application CBSA visited me.. i got a medical passed eligiblity passed sponsor approved and they request my home country police clearance that’s all they requested. They didn’t asked for more proof of cohabition which i’m expecting

I'm from Czech Republic. Still waiting for the reply from the embassy, whether I should renew it as soon as I send out the application or after IRCC requests it.

 

[GIE34]

From what country you are? I’m in the same situation i have to renew my passport but i just have to wait IRCC request it. I’m out of status since 2015 when i passed my application CBSA visited me.. i got a medical passed eligiblity passed sponsor approved and they request my home country police clearance that’s all they requested. They didn’t asked for more proof of cohabition which i’m expecting

I'm from Philippines. . Have you submitted already your application? If I were you, go to your embassy and try to renew your passport soon coz if you gonna wait for the passport request letter from the IRCC, you only have 30 days to submit it and that may delay your application. Whe I received the passport request, i submitted it and within 4 days received my AIP.
I remember there's one member here from Pakistan who he said can't renew his passport here because yes out of status but I think the Pakistan embassy renewed his passport. When you go to your embassy bring all the correspondence from the IRCC regarding your application